Zlinsko

Zlinsko

The region of Zlin is found in the south-eastern part of the Czech Republic entrebetween fertile basin of Morava river and Hostynske and Vizovicke hills, reaching the slopes of Bile Karpaty on the border of Moravia and Slezia. The region is varied, from the point of view of touristical interests. Along the shores of Morava river, where there for ages have been good conditions for founding large settlements, you can find the industrial centres of the whole region.

The largest and most important of them is the city of Zlin with 40,000 inhabitans. The first written remarks about this city come from 1322. That time Zlin was the center of crafts and guilds for its large Valasian surroundings that usually found its living in battle-breeding. Zlin itself was the manor owner´s seat, slowly developing its autonomy. The year 1894 is consired as a very important point - Bata´s family founded a shoe-producing firm here. Thanks to its great prosperity and thanks Tomas Bata´s care for the city at the post of the city mayor, Zlin experienced very intesive development of industry, architecture and life-style between the two worlds wars. Zlin has been a typical example of functional urbanism even so far. Among cultural points of interest of the city are the film studios, where Hermina Tyrlova and Karel Zeman´s animated films were made up celebrating great succes all around the world. A most visited place of the city is the Museum of Shoes symbolizing the past and the present city. The tradition of Bata as a succesfull entrepreneur and convenient geographical location have contributed to the development of Zlin since 1989. Today the city lives with great many of entrepreneur´s activities presented at various exhibitions.

The surroundings of Zlin offers a lot of valuable historical sights. The chateau and the zoo-park of Lesna are among the most searched places of relaxation. The romantic chateau coming from the break of the 19th and 20th century is famous for its beatiful interior decorated with cut wood and for large collections of the Nature´s life. The park and the Zoo offer nice walks among tens of species of rare plants and animals. The lovers of the Middle Ages can visit even the castle of Malenovice, where there are interesting historical, archeological and natural collections of the whole Moravia region. The city of Vizovice has become famous thanks producing tasty baverages named Jelinek. There´s a modern glassworks producing decorative glass. A jewel in Vizovice is a baroque-style chateau built in the 18th century where the visitor can find large collections depicting the life of local nobility and a large gallery. Real pearl of Moravia-Luhacovice, charming town, surrounded by parks and buildings with touches of Moravian folk architecture, will certainly charm each of the visitors. Twelve mineral water sources are succesfully used when curing bronchitis, abdomenal complications, diabetes and othes diseases. Rich possibillites of cultural enjoyment, hiking trips, water sports on local dam make this town one of searchest places in the Czech Republic.

Flat region around Zlin slowly changes into picturesque, rolling natural parks Vizovicke and Hostinske Hills in the northern and eastern part of the district. Almost one half of the district of Zlin is covered with Natural Preserved Area Bile Karpaty. You can find romantic places with rare plants and animals here. In the centre of the meadows of Karpaty the visitor will be touched by the beauty and originality of this region. Its importance was highlited on international field by declaring it a biospherical reservation of the UNESCO in 1996. The original wooden architecture of villages, churches and Moravian traditions - all these make this region enchanting. In 1996 the district of Zlin was visited by over 180,000 visitors, out of whom almost 33,000 were foreigners.